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Outdoors

Katy Trail Missouri Bike Ride

Ride the crushed-limestone bed of the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad along the north bank of the Missouri River, through the Rocheport Tunnel and below the Manitou Bluffs, and turn round at McBaine. The surface is hard and flat. This stretch is a small part of a 386 km (240 mile) trail from Clinton to Machens, the longest developed rail-trail in the United States.

For The Reps · Updated

bike ride scenery for Katy Trail Missouri near Missouri
Photo: Portland Mo near the KATY Trail fall 2011 - panoramio by Carl Belken, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Missouri, USA
Distance
14.2 km (8.8 miles) one way; 28.3 km (17.6 miles) out and back

The route

Rocheport to McBaine and back, Katy Trail State Park (mileposts 178.3 to 169.5).

Start at the Rocheport trailhead, which has parking and restrooms, with water from the restroom sinks all year. Meriwether Cafe in Rocheport rents bikes.

When to go

Open all year from sunrise to sunset. Restrooms and water are unavailable at some trailheads from November to March; at McBaine the water is turned off from 1 November to 1 April.

Before you go

  • Near McBaine, the MKT Trail connector at milepost 169.9 leads into Columbia, the largest town on the Katy, if you want a longer ride.
  • Check the park's Trail Advisory Map before you go for temporary closures due to weather, maintenance or washouts.
  • Carry enough water for the whole ride in the cooler months, when some trailhead taps are off.

What to bring

  • Helmet
  • Spare tube, tyre levers and a pump
  • Water and snacks
  • Front and rear lights
  • A layer for descents and stops

Getting ready for it

Time in the saddle matters more than speed.

If you have not ridden for a while, do two or three rides of an hour or two first so your legs and your seat are used to it.

Staying safe

  • Washouts, fallen trees or rock, water over the trail and farm or maintenance vehicles can all be met on the trail, especially after storms.
  • Missouri State Parks has an active tick advisory; check yourself after riding.
  • Wear bright clothing and use lights wherever there is traffic.
  • Check your brakes and tyres before you leave.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against mostateparks.com, mostateparks.com, mostateparks.com, en.wikipedia.org, bikekatytrail.com and bikekatytrail.com. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.